Reproducer for phonographs.



S. D PADDACK'. REPRODUGER FOR BHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,71913.

Patented July 7, 1914.

WITNESSES: N DE 0 7 .ii'VENTOR & mman a mac UNITED STATES.

o'i' was, Y.

x'tnrnoniicnn Fort rfionoonarns.

1,102,290. "Ab-enacted: of

Application an n: 16, 191a. summaweoai.

manta-tat. fatented July 7,1914.

To all whom it may concern H Be it known that I, SIMON D. Pannaon a'citizenof the United States, residin in; the city of New York, borough of Man attan..county and State of New York, have in-j vented a certain new and useful Reproducer for Phonographs, of which the following is a s eeification.

his invention pertains to reproducers for phonographs, and relates, more particularly, to improvements whereby the diaphragm is maintained in such operative state as to insure, at all times, its most efficient action in quickly and perfectly responding to' the movements of the stylus as it traverses the record.

Speakin generally, the im rovement'consists in so balancing the sty us or tone bar that the diaphragm is free to quickly anal accurately respond to the most minute movements of the stylus. This result is accomplished by associating with the stylus bar; and its supporting spindle, two complemenj tary springs, one of which exerts tension on the stylus bar and thus applies pressure to the diaphragm in one direction, while the other exerts an opposed tension on the stylus bar and a consequent pressure on the diaphragm in an opposite direction to that produced by the first s ring. In the preferred construction, suitab e means is provided for varying the tension on the said springs, and it will thus be obvious that they can be so adjusted that the diaphragm is placed under such tension as to )roduce sounds of the purest and best uality, and yet be so seusi tive as to repro uce the most delicate and softest tones. I

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a phonograph reproducer embodying the present invention and Fig. 2 is a si e elevation thereof.

Referring to. said drawings, A denotes a sound box oi a phonograph reproducer. At one side of said sound box are a pair ofilaterally extending arms (1,, a, between which the stylus bar B, of the reproducer, is

mounted, on a spindle C, the ends of which are engaged by oppositely placed alined screws 0, 0, threaded through the arms a a". For precluding lateral movement of sai' I bar on the spindle-T preferably, fixedly secure the'bar B to said spindle C, though, manifestly,this might be accomplished in various ways. Thus pivoted intermediate its length, the stylus bar extends in ,one direction inward over the sound box-.A, and is secured in any desired manner to the diaphragm D,

and at its opposite free and provision is made for the reception of the stylus b, which may be retained in place by the thumb screw 6'. The stylus bar B is thus mounted for free axial movement and, if the stylus were operated on by a revolving. record, vibrations would be transmitted to the diagihra m and sounds reduced. I have foun however, throng research into this art, that instruments embodying this free move out do not produce results which are entirdl y satisfzictory- '-This.is largely due i to the fact that the weight of the stylus bar and the pressure due to the engagementbetween the stylus and the record cause the slig t, greatly interferes eration'thereof.

In order to obtain the best results from a vibrating diaphragm, it is necessary that said diaphragm lie, when in its normal state of quietude, a' plane. Realizing this, I have, by the present invention, provided means whereby the aforesaid difficulties are obviated by so balancing the stylus bar B that the diaphragm is freeto" normally assume its correct position, Moreover, said balancing means is' extremely simple in construction and is, at the same time, capable of such fine adj ustme'nt that it will not interfere with the-reproductionof the most delicate tones, but, rather, tend to stimulate them. Bevolubl mounted on the spindle C, at either s i e' .of the stylus liar B, are a air of ra'teh wheels E, E, and interme late said whe is and bar a pair of helical springs. F, ,F', encircle said spindle. The spring F is secured at one end ofits ends to the ,pin f, on the wheel E, and its-other end is bent over, as'at 7'', so as to engage the upper .face of the stylus bar. The spring F is-seoured at one end to the piir f on the wheel E, and its other end is bent-over, as at f", so as to engage the lower face of said bar. Dogs I, I, pivoted on the sound box by the pins 2', i, are positioned for (:0- operation with the ratchet wheels E, E, re-

with the proper opdiapkhragm to bulge, which bulge, however spectively, being so situated that they opera, i, exert pressure on the dogs I, I, to normally retain them in engagement with said ratchet wheels. It will thus be obvious that,

by rotating the wheels E E, in counter directions, the springs F, F Ina be put under opposed tension and that, by t e proper inampulation of t ese wheels, the tension on said springs may be so regulated as to perfcctly balance the stylus bar.

An instrument embodying the present invention is found to produce tones of the highest quality and those rapid, jerky, and irregular sounds sometimes distinguishable in phonographs are not prevalent. This is due to the fact that the stylus bar is, .at all times, under the influence of one or the other of the springs with the result that even tones or sounds are assured. In the foregoing description, the repro- 2o ducer is set forth in what has been thus far found to be the best form, though, doubtless, changes, within the capacity of those skilled in the art, will be made from time to time. Manifestly, therefore, I do not wish 26 to be understood as limiting myself to the specific structure shown, or to any greater extent than the state of the art may require.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to se- 30 cure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a reproducer for-phonographs, or the like, the combination 0 a sound box, a' spindle mounted in cotiperative relation thereto, a stylus bar pivoted on said spindie, and helical springs positioned cosxially with the spindle and coiipereting with the stylus bar whereby said her may be balanced on its axis ofoscillation.

2. In a reproducer for the like, the combination 0 a sound box, a spindle mounted in cohperat-ive relation thereto, a stylus bar pivoted on said spindle, helical springs positioned coaxially with the spindle and cooperating with the stylus liar, and means cooperating with said springs for placing them under opposed tension whereby said her may be balanced onits axis of oscillation.

3. in a reproducer for honographs, or the like, the combination 0? a sound box, a pindle mounted in coiiperative relation thereto, a styluslmr pivoted on said spindle, heli'cal springs positioned coexially with the spindle and cooperating with the stylus bar, adjusting means cooperating with said springs for. placin them under opposed tension whereby sai bar may be balanced on the s indle, and means for lock-. ing said control ing means against inadvertent movement.

a. In a reproducer for the like, the'combination o a sound box,

honographs, or 5 1,1os,seo

a spindle mounted thereon, a stylus bar carried by said spindle, helical springs positioned coaxially with the spindle and secured to the stylus bar at their ends adjacent to said her, adjusting means mounted on the spindle and coiiperatin'g with the opposite ends of said springs for placing them under opposed tensions, and means independent of said spindle and eo j'wruhle with the adjusting means, whereby said adjusting meansmay be locked against inadvertent movement.

5. In a' reproducer for phonographs, or the like, the combination of a sound box, -a spindle mounted thereon, a stylus bar carried by said spindle, helical'springs positioned 'coaxially with the spindle and secured to the stylus bar at their ends adjacent to said bar, adjusting means rotatably mounted on the spindle and cooperating with the. opposite ends of said springs for placing them under opposed tensions, and means independent of said spindle and cooperable with the adjusting means. whereby "said adjusting means is automatically loch-ed against inadvertent rotation.

' 6. In a reproducer for phonogmphs. the combination of a sound box, a spindle mounted on said sound box, a stylus lmr pi\'- oted on said spindle at substantially the center thereof, rotatable members mounted on said spindle, helical springs cooperating with the stylus bar and the rotatable members whereby the rotation of said members in opposite directions serves to place the springs under tension, and means whereby inadvertent movement of said rotatable members is precluded.

7. in a reprodueer for phonographs. the combination of a sound box, a spindle mounted on said sound box. a stylus bar pivoted on said spindle at substantially the center thereof, ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said spindle, at either sideof the stylus bar, helical springs encircling said spindle and having their opposite ends attached to the stylus bar and to the ratchet wheels, whereby the turning of said wheels in opposite directions serves to place the springs under opposed tensions. and do s coiiperating, with said ratchet wheels for the purpose of maintaining the springs under such relative tension that the stylus bar will be perfectly balanced.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of:

two subscribing witnesses.

SIMON D. PADDACK.

Witnesses Commune Zasmsmn,

pponogrsphs, or

M. C. Romuoonz;

senses sen men: may sues (or ave bent: each, by addressing the Geese: e2 intents,

E U. I i I i 

